President Trump says 'we will have relations with North Korea'; it's a 'big asset' that he gets along with Kim

President Donald Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House on Friday, reaffirming his commitment to engaging with North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un.

"We will have relations with North Korea and Kim Jong Un. I get along with them very well," Trump told reporters alongside Ishiba.

Trump, who first met Kim in 2018 in Singapore, was the first sitting U.S. president to engage directly with North Korea’s leader. He later made history in 2019 by stepping into North Korean territory from the demilitarized zone. Now, he aims to build on that diplomatic foundation.

"We had a good relationship, and I think that’s a huge advantage for everyone," Trump said.

Japan, which has never established formal diplomatic relations with North Korea, supports renewed dialogue. Trump noted Japan’s interest, saying, "They like the idea because their relationship is not very good with him."

Ishiba welcomed Trump’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Japan cooperation in addressing North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

"Japan and the U.S. will work together toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea," Ishiba stated.

The prime minister also highlighted Japan’s long-standing issue with North Korea regarding the abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s. Although North Korea returned some abductees in the early 2000s, it never fully accounted for those still missing. Ishiba insisted there could be no normalization of relations without a resolution.

"Our time is limited," he warned.

Ishiba acknowledged that while resolving the abduction issue is primarily Japan’s responsibility, continued U.S. cooperation is crucial.

"We understand this is first and foremost a Japan issue, but we would love to continue working with the U.S. on this matter," he added.

This article was reported by journalist Angelia.